Dallas ISD gets more college in its game

Looking for new student opportunities within Dallas ISD? Mark your calendar for Dec. 5, the date the district begins taking online applications for its collegiate academies. Those heading to high school will have 10 new academies to choose from next year -- in addition to the eight that opened in August. Each will have a higher education partner and offer its own career pathway. Participants can earn up to 60 hours of college credit or an associate's degree at no cost, while also getting their high school diploma. Check out dallasisd.org/collegiateacademies for more info.

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, the newly-elected president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, speaks at a news conference at the USCCB's annual fall meeting in Baltimore, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. Among DiNardo's duties during his three-year term will be guiding the bishops' relationship with President-elect Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

(AP)

A wise choice by U.S. bishops

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will be the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. It's a timely and wise move given the Church's historic role in speaking up for immigrants around the world. Texas prelates have long been at the forefront of their church's advocacy for humane treatment of migrants, immigrants, and refugees. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who until shortly before his elevation to cardinal by Pope Francis last month led Dallas's diocese, was an equally forceful voice for compassion. We wish DiNardo every strength and all the wisdom he needs to help lead the American church.

We remember Gwen Ifill

In a world of boisterous political commentary, PBS broadcaster Gwen Ifill was a remarkable exception. She listened intently, spoke softly and focused her energies on informing her audience instead of trying to demonstrate that she was the smartest person in the room.It was that grace and integrity that made her a trusted and respected voice in journalism. Ifiil, who died this week, will be missed, as will her standard for journalistic excellence.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and the rest of the offense swarm around running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) after he scored the game-winning touchdown as the Dallas Cowboys beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 35-30 on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Max Faulkner/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS)

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As if Dak, Zeke and the 'Boys weren't already winners...

How did the Dallas Cowboys celebrate their eighth straight win Sunday? Within 24 hours, QB Dak Prescott, running back Ezekiel Elliott and the rest of the rookie class served an early Thanksgiving dinner at the Salvation Army in Fort Worth. Veteran players did the same in Dallas. The Cowboys' charitable connections to the Salvation Army go back two decades, and the players' kitchen duty is just one of many Cowboy Red Kettle traditions. But no doubt this year -- with the team boasting the best record in the NFL -- servers and guests alike had much to be thankful for.

Tony Romo's graceful passing of the baton

Even if you have no love for the Cowboys, you have to love Tony Romo. The veteran made it clear that there would be no quarterback controversy on the team this year when he publicly accepted his backup role and declared that rookie Dak Prescott had earned the right to be the starter. Romo, now healed after being injured for most the year, acknowledged that something magical is happening with the team that Prescott has led to an 8-1 season. And he vowed to support his replacement in any way he could. You can't teach class and grace. You either have it or you don't. Romo has it.

An appropriate ending

Yes, it edged close to an after-the-fact political endorsement. However, put politics aside for a moment. Watching "Saturday Night Live's" Kate McKinnon, in full Hillary Clinton persona, performing a piano version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" was an amazing mashup of political commentary and tribute to the just-deceased singer and songwriter. The song, which includes the line "I told the truth, I didn't come to fool ya," also provided a melancholy twist to a long, hard fought political campaign. It might not have tickled everyone's political fancy, but the moment was innovative and entertaining.

Bathrooms are at the top of Dan Patrick's priority list?

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's Top 10 priority list for the 2017 Legislative session includes the usual conservative mainstays such as a balanced budget, tax reform and spending caps. And bathrooms. Really? With all the important issues in this state, it's alarming that regulating which bathroom a transgender person can use is so high on his list. Instead, how about reforms to fix the dysfunctional Child Protective Services system that is endangering thousands of children? Or revamping the convoluted public school funding system? Patrick needs to get out of the business of trying to tell people where to do their business.

Richard Spencer in this 8th grade photo from the St. Mark's School of Texas 1993 yearbook photographed on Wednesday, November 16, 2016. For a story on Richard Spencer, who grew up in the DFW area, and is a leader of the alt-right.

(Staff Photographer)

A native son spouts white nationalism

It's disheartening to see a Dallas native and graduate of the prestigious St. Mark's School of Texas turn a life of privilege into a victim mindset that allows him to champion a racist, xenophobic nation in which only white lives count. But that's exactly what Richard Spencer has done by cultivating a white nationalist campaign that mushroomed into the "alt-right" movement, which touts a separatist agenda that eschews globalism and multiculturalism in favor a Eurocentric ethno-state. "I don't care about everyone," Spencer, 38, says. "I don't care about the world." We care that he's not the face of Dallas or America.